The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-12-31
DEMOCRATIC RULE.

yohn q. Carlisle Tells What Democracy
Has Dono for the Country and why It
should 10 Continued In Powcr-An Able
Doeument Based Upon History and Facts
Within tho Recollection Of Every fntois
Ngcnt Reader.
hon. John G. Carlisle, Speaker of
the House of Representatives for two
terms, contributes an able article on
the Continuance of Democratic Rule
to recent issue of the Forum, from
which we quote rs fol.uwes
in undertaking to state some OF the reasons
why the Democratic party should be continued
in power il is necessary. in the first instance,
tween the two existing parties concerning the
nature and extent Of the Federal power under
the constitution, because 1t is manifest that
their administration of public affairs must De
greatly influenced By their respective views
upon this fundamental question. This diner
euco OF opinion has existed continuously since
the organization Of the Government, and has
always constituted, as It still does, the most
clearly defined line OF separation between POI
liticai parties in this country. 1t would have
been reasonable TO suppose that after nearly q
hundred years Of practical administration OF
the Government under the constitution, AFTER
repeated decisions Of the question by the high
est judicial tribunals, and after tie thorough
ana able discussions that have taken place nj
every stage Of the controversy, tho relations
between the several States and their people
and the Government Of the United States
would be well understood, and their separate
rights and powers fully recognized by all par
ties. Such, however, is not the case. In
theory and practice the Republican
party Ct to-day is more extravagant In us as
sertion of what IL calls 'Ndhonal author
ity" than its Federalist progenitor was
century ago. During the short period between
the close of the war and the year 1875 while 1t
controlled the legislation in Congress, It passed
| q greater number of unconstitutional enact
ments than can be found in oil the remainder
OF our legislative history. But 1t was not In
+, Congress alonc that this dangerous tendency
| toward the concentration and arbitrary exer-
else of power was exhibited. The Executive
| Department, In all its branches. was equally
| Indifferent to the limitations imposed upon 1t
! By the constitution and laws, and the Prest-
| dent was rapidly becoming what Patrick Hen
! ~ predicted he would be, ian American King"
So arrogant and intolerant was this spirit Of en-
croachment upon the reserved rights OF the
States and people, that the conservative ele-
ments in the country Spontaneously combined
70 resist II, and the consequence was that since
the fourth day of March, 1875, but one Republic
an House OF Representatives has met
at Washington, and In 1876 large
majority OF the popular vote was cast
for the Democratic candidates for President
and vice-President 1t Is, perhaps, not going
too far to say that II the Republican party had
not been deprived Of power in the popular
branch OF the Legislative department. and II
the warning of 1875 had not been given by the
people, our fedcrative system Of government
would have been by this time substantially
overthrown. and the right of local seif-govern
ment, which les at the very foundation OF ouI
free institutions. would have been confined 70
the narrowest possible limits.
1t is an indisputable historical fact that thu
constitution of the United States was adopted
and the Union formed under 1t By the people O.
the several States, each political communit!
acting separately and independently OF al
others, through its own State organization.
Is equally undeniable that the Government
thus created by tho people Of tho severa
States was one Of defined and limited powers
and that all powers not delegated to it nor pro
hbited to the States, were, In the language o
the constitution itself, reserved TO the States
respectively, or TO the people," This brie
statement comprchends the whole Democrats
theory Of constitutional government In thi
country, and II must be eviden
10 every one who seriously reflects upo
the subject that it is the only theory upo
which the orderly and harmonious excl
else of State and Federal authority over tn
same territory and people can be permanent
; maintained. Conflicts OF authority necessaril
produce dissension and strife, and It is there
fore essential to the repose Of the country tina
the division Of power between the State an
| Federal governments shall be scrupulousl
i, observed by the party In control OF the Admin
lstration. The importance of such polio
| was never greater or more apparent than NOV
, After long period Of uncertainty and unrei
, the whole country has finally adjusted fsse
} TO the new conditions imposed by the war, an
a. b<,v led IN {,orr a
, of great Industrial and commercial prosperit
, is o continued assurance that political and SCI
tional controversies will not be permitted
disturb the pursuits Of the people II
present Democratic Administration, tnstea
> of depressing business and arresting the deve
.. opment OF our sources, as was predicted, hi
: inspired feeling Of confidence and secu
{ tty that did not exist before for more than
quarter Of q century, and in every part
the Union but more especially in Il
South, capital has been invested, commerci
relations have been established, and large e
:. terprises have been projected upon the fat
that no further harsh or extraordinary polif
/, cal measures would be adopted or attempted
Unless all the present in locations are
q certiye, the return OF the Republican party
u power would be Immediately followed by Il
Q introduction of propositions still further to e
r tend the supervision Of the Federal autho
: ties ov or the local and domestic affairs OF Z
people, and by an unnecessary and hurtfuI I
: agitation of race and sectional questions viii
4 have already been settled upon the preci
!, terms dictated by itself. Having demonstrat
its incapacity to deal with the subject by I
e tempting the political and social reconstrt
8 ton of the Southern States upon the irration
theory that the people who had been slaves
their lives, and who were totally ignorant
Q the character OF our institutions, were the b
q guardians OF our liberties, 1t now complai
!. that the newly enfranchised race does not Z
~ ercise the power conferred spon 1t; and up
y this provocation the country is thre
d ened with q renewal OF the strife viii
nil patriotic citizens had hoped "
70 ended forever. Very little, II any, dirt
8 evidence is produced 10 prove that the color
II vote In the South is improperly suppressed
controlled. but the returns Of State and @
gressional elections are exhibited, showi
1t that only q small portion Of the total vote